Wichita eagle., 1887-11-16
A FIRST BATTLE RECORD.
The Sixth AIabama's Desperate Charg
Under Gordon at Seven Pines.

The Sixth AIabama's Desperate Charge
Under Gordon at Seven Pines.
One day in the spring of 1861, when the
clans Of the Confederacy were gathering,
there tramped into Montgomery, then the
temporary capital, a company of gaunt, wild
eyed, jeans clad men. As they marched along
in irregular files, with an every man for him
self air, somebody on the sidewalk called out:
"What command is that!n
independent Rifles" was the reply shouted
back from the ranks.
independent Rifles" spectator echoed
with grin
''Raccoon Roughs, came from the free and
easy ranks; Il reck'n that'l suit you uns"
Every man in the company wore coonslin
cap, and 1.-The Raccoon Roughs" they were
from that time On. The command had been
recruited from the miners and mountaineers
OF the northwest corner Of Georgia and the
northeast corner of Alabama They were
neighbors and fellow workmen, whose associ-
ations Tapped over state lines. Their captain
was John B. Gordon, at present the governor
Of Georgia, but be didn't hold the position
long. The Raccoon Roughs" were mobil-
lied with some other companies and became
the Sixth Alabama, to the command of which
Capt. Gordon was elected.
At Seven Pines the Sixth Alabama re-
ceived its baptism of fire. Before that there
had been some skirmishing, but this was the
first battle, and, az Governor Gordon describes
the scenes, they make up for the regiment
first battle record which probably is without
parallel on either side. a shade comes over
the governors expressive face and his voice
drops to lower tones when he talks OF tnat
day
II started on tho charge" he says, with
900 mon in my regiment When the fighting
ended at nightfall 395 OF the 600 Law on the
field dead or wounded. My lieutenant col
onel was killed. OF forty-four commissioned
officers only thirteen came out Of that DAVIS
fighting unscathed.
Il had brother with me-a bow" Cover
nor Gordon continued. "Fe was shot through
the right lung, but he recovered, only to die
with Stonewal jackson at Charlottesville
He was 10 years old. had several bullet
holes in my clothes when night came, but was
not wounded. One ball raked across nv
chest, and would have shattered nv right
arm II hadn't 1t upllfted to point with nv
sword movement l wanted my command to
make.
THE Sixth Alabama" the governor went
VI, was oPPosIee d portion or the Federal
line which that side had no idea would be
taken. We made the assault in the forenoon.
There was charge across the open field, per
haps distance of 500 yards Then we came
to breastworks behind which the Federals
were as thick as they could stand. As we
went over their lines we found the evidences
that they had no idea Of being driven back.
cooking was going on, and in a house a meal
had been prepared for an officers mess. We
followed them back of the works and into a
swamp where great many trees had been
felled 1t was impossible TO go ahead. and
there we stopped, stood III the water I'D to
our knees and fought till dark had to de-
tail men in there to hold the heads of the
wounded above water to keep them from
drowning. And some of the time L could not
find enough well men to take care of the
wounded"
Governor, do you recollect of any other
command which lost SO heavily in a single
charge at any time during the warp was
asked
No." replied the governor, after little
pause. Il don't recollect anything which was
quite equal to it. Our loss was within three
or four men of being two-thirds of the whole |
regiment. Chicago Times.